David James Kinne Sr., 93, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was comforted in his last days and hours by four of his children, Dave Jr, Lezlie, Betty, and John. Graveside services and military honors will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at the Pack River Cemetery with Pastor Jim Osman officiating.

David was born on Nov. 19, 1924, in Wilmar, Calif., to Newton and Mary Kinne. David served in the United States Navy and saw combat in the South Pacific as aircrew during World War II. He married Betty Nielsen on Jan. 24, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nev. He then joined the newly formed U.S. Air Force and served a 20-year career. He flew 50 combat missions in the Korean War, helped to establish the AF Search and Rescue service, and retired with full honors as a major in 1966. He has flown over 71 different aircraft and helicopters acquiring over 20,000 flight hours.

While serving in the Air Force, Dave purchased a small 40-acre farm east of Kootenai, Idaho, overlooking Oden Bay. When he retired in 1966, the family moved to Sandpoint. David worked as a pilot for McFarland Pole Company, Pack River Lumber Company, and Kenai Air. He also flew a DC-3 as a missionary pilot for Mercy Airlift in Ethiopia.

Watching a televised Billy Graham evangelistic crusade in 1964, Dave embraced the good news of salvation through faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He devoted multiple hours of self-study in God’s Word and was licensed to preach the gospel by Calvary Baptist Church, Sandpoint, Idaho, and Lakeview Bible Chapel, Hope, Idaho. He served the Lord as a pastor of Lakeview Bible Chapel and later Kootenai Community Church. He loved to see souls saved. He was a devoted pastor, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He enjoyed studying God’s Word, Preaching, woodworking, reloading, guns, flying, the ocean and sunshine. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Betty Kinne of Sandpoint; five children, David (Karen) Kinne of Post Falls, Preston (Gretchen) Kinne, Lezlie Kinne of Pony, Mont., Betty Ann (Elton) Anderson of Sandpoint, and John (Andrea) Kinne of Sandpoint; 19 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Louise Heinz of Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and four siblings, Evelyn, Elmer, Zoe, and Marcy.

Memorial donations may be made to Life Choices Pregnancy Center, PO Box 2360, Sandpoint, ID 83864 or the Gideon Bible Society, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit David’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.